A few months ago my nine year old daughter Ally and I went out to lunch with my aunt.  We were just about to place our drink orders when Ally looked up and said "Auntie, you should order Root Beer."  Not a big fan of soda, my aunt bit her lower lip and said, "Well Ally, I haven't had a Root Beer in a long time, maybe I should just get an iced tea."  Not one to back down, Ally stated boldly, "No Auntie, you should get the Root Beer, it will make you feel like a kid again!".  Her determined commercial endorsement bowled not only us over, but also everyone at the table behind us.  We ALL ordered Root Beer.   

     Ally's comment also got me thinking about getting older; the aging process and how society views the metamorphosis we all will take. Most of us try to fight physical decline; crows feet, falling breasts, the ever expanding middle. There is dieting and weight lifting, Botox, cosmetic surgery, and hair dying, all out there to help us battle the inevitable. But, Ally got me thinking about "feeling" like a kid again. 

     This is something over which mother nature has no control.  Only we have the power to control that area of our lives. We can decide how we view the world and how the world views us.  We can choose to be bitter, agitated, rude and ignorant, sad and self-deprecating, old and battered.  OR, we can choose to be glorious and lively, humorous and engaging, inviting, vigilant, warm, giving, loving, active, imaginative and at peace.
   
     This never changes, regardless whether we have just discovered our first gray hair, or have a head full of it!  Ally reminded me that small things, Root Beer, kites, bikes, or simply taking chances and forgiving ourselves when we fail, really does make us feel like a kid again and restores our youthful glow.  Mama Kim  kalbuerne@gmail.com

 


Comments




Leave a Reply